Team Members

Maria obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Navarra, Spain. She moved to New York City for her postdoctoral training with Evgeny Nudler at NYU Medical Center, where she became interested in the regulation of the stress response. Then, she moved to the laboratory of Robert Singer at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where she developed single-cell and single-molecule fluorescence microscopy approaches to resolving the stress response.

Morgane Verbrugghe

I obtained a Master’s degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Rennes, France. During my first job experience, I studied the translation of a transcriptional factor in a Drosophila embryo where I was introduced to smFISH, SunTag and MS2 techniques and the RNA field. I am happy to join the Vera Ugalde Lab to continue working with those techniques and helping members of the team with their projects. During my free time, I like to knit many sweaters to fight Montréal winter. 

Luca Lazzari

MS September 2023- September 2025

Ph.D. Student – Co-supervised by JF Trempe (McGill Pharmacology)

NSERC summer 2022. CIHR fellow.

Luca studied Pharmacology and Therapeutics as an undergraduate at McGill. His project focuses on studying the translation of PINK1 mRNA. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports such as soccer and golf. 

Talar Ghadanian

MS September 2023- September 2025

Ph.D Student 

I am studying the translation mechanism of Heat Shock Protein (HSP70). 

Shruti Iyer

M.Sc September 2023- September 2025

Ph.D. Student – Co-supervised with Katie Cockburn

Shruti studied biochemistry as an undergraduate at McGill.  In her free time, she likes to sit out in the park (weather permitting) and is in search of the best coffee in Montreal.

Marius d’Herve

MSc in Biochemistry

I work on the translational regulation of the inducible HSP70 mRNA Hspa1a in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. In my free time, I like to read, walk/hike, and bake

Haleigh Riddell

MSc in Biochemistry

CIHR Fellow

I completed undergrad at the University of Toronto where I double majored in Neuroscience and Cell and Molecular Biology. I study the localization and translation of Hspa8 mRNA in neurons and astrocytes in Alzheimer’s Disease and neuroinflammation. In my free time, I like to ski, watch hockey and read.

Lilli Wolfart

MSc in Biophysics – Co-supervised by Steph Weber (McGill Biology)

CIHR Fellow

Outside of the lab, I enjoy playing the piano, camping, and exploring Montreal.

James Lynch

Biology and Computer Science Honours BSc May 2026

MSc in Biochemistry

I am currently working on live cell imaging of HSP mRNAs in the dendrites of neurons. I also enjoy playing hockey, volleyball, and other sports.

Freyja Petty

Biochemistry Honours BSc

Freyja is a fourth year honour’s undergraduate student studying biochemistry. She studies the effect of heat stress on P-body molecular mobility. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, reading, and creative writing.

Olivier Bissonnette

Biology and Computer Science Honours BSc

Olivier is a third-year undergraduate completing a Computer Science and Biology Honours BSc. He is contributing to the computational analysis and quantification of HSP mRNA translation dynamics. He enjoys sketching, backpacking and playing various sports. 

Raphaëlle Noseworthy

Biochemistry Honours BSc

Raphaëlle is a Biochemistry Honours undergraduate student at McGill University. She has a background in epidemiological research and is interested in studying how RNA regulation and other cellular processes contribute to disease, using molecular imaging and computational data analysis. In her free time, she enjoys running and baking.

Marguerite Riggi

Biochemistry Honours BSc

Marguerite is a U3 Honours Biochemistry student studying selective translation of HSP70 in yeast during heat stress. Outside of the lab, she enjoys playing the violin with friends and practicing photography.

Lisa Reinaudi-Monzier

Biochemistry BSc

I am a second-year undergraduate student majoring in Biochemistry. My research interests are neuroscience and microbiology, and in my free time I love to rock-climb!